B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 time to add the B次元官网网址楳,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair in a new video released by the YWCA on Thursday.
She, along with other influencers such as SportsnetB次元官网网址檚 Tara Slone, is helping spread the message of a new campaign that asks a simple question: B次元官网网址淓ver wonder why menB次元官网网址檚 sports are just called B次元官网网址榮portsB次元官网网址� but womenB次元官网网址檚 sports are called B次元官网网址榳omenB次元官网网址檚 sports?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
That video was launched as part of a larger campaign called B次元官网网址淎dd the M,B次元官网网址� which is looking to draw greater awareness to the inherent inequity seen between menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 professional sports leagues.
The campaign takes specific aim at four of the biggest sports B次元官网网址� hockey, basketball, soccer and golf B次元官网网址� that have menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 professional leagues by adding an B次元官网网址淢B次元官网网址� to the front of the NHL, NBA, MLS and PGA logos.
B次元官网网址淲ithout the M, menB次元官网网址檚 sports leagues are treated as the default for all sports, automatically leaving women out of the conversation,B次元官网网址� Sinclair said in a statement. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to fight for equality, when all of womenB次元官网网址檚 sports are treated as an afterthought.B次元官网网址�
Spearheaded by Amy Juschka, the YWCA Vancouver branchB次元官网网址檚 director of communications and advocacy, Add the M came about as she was listening to an interview with Canada SoccerB次元官网网址檚 president Nick Bontis.
B次元官网网址淲hen he was asked about the fact that there was no professional (soccer) league for women in Canada, his rationale was that Canada Soccer had never sought out or attracted the level of investment thatB次元官网网址檚 needed to have a league for women.
B次元官网网址淎nd I just thought that is so bad and such a tragedy for all of these girls about their worth, their value as athletes.B次元官网网址�
After doing research into professional womenB次元官网网址檚 sports leagues, Juschka thinks she found the heart of the problem.
B次元官网网址淭he way that it turns from an idea to action is thinking about what is a visible way to show how women are isolated in sports,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址滱nd, really, itB次元官网网址檚 the B次元官网网址榃B次元官网网址� that is before the acronym.B次元官网网址�
Thus, came the idea to mock up existing professional sports leagueB次元官网网址檚 logos like the NHLB次元官网网址檚, changing it to the MNHL.
The YWCA is a non-profit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership and rights of women and girls in more than 100 countries.
Using this network, the Add the M campaign is hoping to leave a big impression, even at the risk of getting into a little trouble.
B次元官网网址淭hey are trademarked, yes,B次元官网网址� Juschka said of the logos being spoofed. B次元官网网址淲e think that this really is just a fun opportunity for us to be able to show in a very visual way inequity in sport.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淕ender inequity in sport is a systemic issue. There are so many examples. Everything from pay inequity, to lack of representation, to lack of role models.B次元官网网址�
This inequity, Juschka said, leads to young girls leaving sport.
B次元官网网址淥ne in three girls drop out of sports in their late teens, compared to just one in 10 boys,B次元官网网址� she said in a press release. B次元官网网址淕irls are losing out on all the advantages sport provides as they move into adulthood B次元官网网址� from health and wellness, to leadership development, to the support of a team.B次元官网网址�.
B次元官网网址擲teven Loung, The Canadian Press
